Effortless entertaining

Easy on the eye and simple to make, thanks to shop-bought ingredients and no fiddly techniques. These recipes can be made ahead or require 30 mins or fewer of prep – they’re go-to ideas for entertaining special guests.

Large plate of filled bao buns

Bao bun fillings

Two grey bowls filled with prawns in a red chilli garlic sauce and topped with chopped parsley

Prawns pil pil

Plate of devilled eggs with toppings

Dressed eggs

White baking paper topped with a whole steamed sea bass with red chilli and cucumber

37 effortless entertaining recipes

Effortless desserts

Tall glasses filled with chocolate mousse and topped with raspberries on a grey background

Baking and desserts

Raspberry chocolate pots

a white plate on a tone surface filled with folded crepes, grilled chunks of peach and thick cream, with a silver fork and green napkin

Baking and desserts

Grilled peaches, pancakes and ricotta

a plate of sponge fingers topped with raspberry coulis and cream with a grey stone background

Baking and desserts

Berry tiramisu

Two glasses layered with chocolate mousse, caramel and topped with crumbled shortbread biscuits

Millionaire’s shortbread mousse

Effortless bar hacks

Negroni Sbagliato Cocktail Recipe

13 three-ingredient cocktails

Bottles of sugar syrup next to a cocktail strainer

Home bar hacks

A copper cup filled with crushed ice and a sprig of mint on a yellow table with a pink background

Cocktails and drinks

Mint julep

wine bottles layered on top of each other

olive wine supermarket awards 2022

Effortless baking

A wooden platter of cardamom buns with a mug of black coffee

Baking and desserts

Cardamom buns

a plum tart on a peach plate with an olive green napkin

Baking and desserts

Plum and pistachio frangipane tart

A small black bowl filled with chocolate truffles coated in a biscuit crumb

Peanut butter truffles

A plate topped with golden brown flatbreads topped with red grapes and cheese

Gorgonzola and grape flatbreads

Effortless dinner party starters

Two crisp breads on a white plate topped with crabmeat and fennel

Crab toasts

An oval platter filled with cooked cherry tomatoes and a block of feta

Baked feta with roasted grapes and rosemary

A wooden board on a grey stone background flled with vegetable crudités and a small pot of chipotle aïoli with red rippled through

Crudités with chipotle aïoli

Two grey bowls filled with prawns in a red chilli garlic sauce and topped with chopped parsley

Prawns pil pil